Women’s entry to Sabarimala restricted as they cannot fast for 48 days: Devaswom board

The Devaswom board on Thursday mentioned in Supreme Court that they are restricting women’s entry to Sabarimala as they cannot fast for 48 days. 

The board also said that there are few rituals to be followed to enter the temple and since women cannot perform them, the board will not permit their entry.

The senior Supreme Court lawyer and counsel appearing for the Kerala government, Jaideep Gupta, said in Court, 'We are not opposing the petitioner's prayer.'

The court announced that the next hearing on this case will be held on July 24.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, on Wednesday heard a petition challenging the decision of the Devaswom board banning entry of women of age group 10-50 years. 

The Court on Wednesday said that the women cannot be discriminated against offering prayer in a temple. 

Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for one of the intervenors, on Wednesday assailed the practice and said that the ban on the entry of women of certain age groups was violative of various fundamental rights including Article 17 which deals with untouchability.

The apex court had on October 13 last year referred the issue to a Constitution bench after framing five "significant" questions including whether the practice of banning entry of women into the temple amounted to discrimination and violated their fundamental rights under the Constitution.